Paul Pogba scored with a late header to finally break Nigeria’s stubborn resistance and Joseph Yobo added an own-goal as France won 2-0 to reach the World Cup quarterfinals on Monday.
Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama had just made a superb save to tip over Karim Benzema’s header, but he flapped at the ball from the ensuing corner and Pogba pounced in the 79th minute to nod in his first goal of the tournament.
Pogba atoned for a scrappy first half in which he gave the ball away carelessly and placed a volley too close to Enyeama. Scoring such a crucial goal will boost his confidence heading into the last eight game on Friday at Rio’s Maracana stadium against either Germany or Algeria, who were playing their match later.
“I’m very happy and proud to be among the last eight teams left, and honestly the players deserve it,” France coach Didier Deschamps said. “We have four days left to prepare for another battle.”
Yobo turned the ball into his own net in stoppage time under pressure from France substitute Antoine Griezmann — who made a big difference after replacing the ineffective Olivier Giroud in the 62nd.
At the final whistle, France’s relieved players danced in front of their fans as dreams of a repeat run to the final — just like in 2006 — moved a step closer.
“We had the whole country behind us. It’s one of the proudest moments of my life,” Pogba said. “We know we’re capable of playing our best match and playing the worst, but today we were good. We stuck together and I’m very happy.”
France started slowly and finished strongly in the second round match.
“You can always start well but you can also finish well, I’ve yet to see a team play well over the whole 90 minutes,” Deschamps said. “Nigeria dropped off a bit and that allowed us to get on top.”
African champion Nigeria had a goal ruled out for offside in the 19th minute after Emmanuel Emenike poked home Ahmed Musa’s cross from the left, but wasted a lot of second-half possession.
“I think it was a good game, the score doesn’t tell the game,” Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi said.
After Griezmann came on, Benzema finally came alive in the 70th, opening up the defense after a clever one-two with the France substitute. After Enyeama blocked Benzema’s initial shot, his follow-up effort was hacked clear by Victor Moses. Video technology confirmed that the ball had not crossed the line.
Pogba’s tendency to try and hit perfect through-balls worked against his team as he gave the ball away four times inside the first 10 minutes alone. He often seemed in two minds and this only slowed down the French attacks.
France failed to show the attacking flair of previous games, with Giroud skewing a shot wide early on from the edge of the penalty area.
Giroud also appeared to elbow John Obi Mikel in an off-the ball incident, having done the same in last week’s 0-0 draw with Ecuador after coming on as a second-half substitute.
Two chances were missed late in the half.
Full-back Mathieu Debuchy found space on the right side of the area in the 40th after collecting a pass from Mathieu Valbuena, but his attempt smacked into the back of a steward. Emenike saw his sharp drive from the edge of the area palmed away by France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, with no Nigeria player near the loose ball.
Center half Raphael Varane added much composure to a nervous-looking France team and hurt himself heading away a cross before it could reach Emenike in the 53rd. With French nerves fraying, midfielder Blaise Matuidi was booked for a heavy challenge on Ogenyi Onazi, who was replaced by Ruben Gabriel in the 59th.
The atmosphere quietened at the Estadio Nacional in Brasilia, with the pockets of French fans watching silently on as Nigeria started to dominate possession. Deschamps then made a key change, taking Giroud off and bringing on Griezmann, freeing Benzema to play through the middle.
But Nigeria continued to push forward, and Lloris did well to block a shot from Peter Odemwingie and center half Laurent Kocielny made a vital interception to block Musa’s dangerous cross from the right.
Then, it was all France as Griezmann boosted the attacks with his mobility and technique, and he almost made it 2-0 with an effort in the 85th that Enyeama tipped over brilliantly. Instead, it fell to Yobo to inadvertently add France’s second goal.
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Lineups:
France: Hugo Lloris; Mathieu Debuchy, Raphael Varane, Laurent Koscielny, Patrice Evra; Paul Pogba, Yohan Cabaye, Blaise Matuidi; Mathieu Valbuena (Moussa Sissoko, 94th), Olivier Giroud (Antoine Griezmann, 62nd), Karim Benzema.
Nigeria: Vincent Enyeama; Efe Ambrose, Kenneth Omeruo, Joseph Yobo, Juwon Oshaniwa; Ogenyi Onazi (Ruben Gabriel, 59th), John Obi Mikel; Ahmed Musa, Peter Odemwingie, Victor Moses (Uche Nwofor, 89th); Emmanuel Emenike.
Source: UNBConnect
